Book Review: Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Stephanie Barron
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Historical
Series: Jane Austen # 6
Bantam, Dec 2001, $23.95, 291 pp.

In 1807, Jane Austen and her mother live in the home of her brother Frank until their own residence can be made ready. Frank, a captain in the British Royal Navy, is without a ship at present but might get command of the Stella Maris. Frank wants his own command, but not at the cost of his good friend captain Thomas Seagraves, who will have been hung after a court-martial for killing a French officer during a flag of truce.

His lieutenant accuses Thomas of this crime. On the day of the court martial, the lieutenant fails to show up. Soon word arrives at the hearing that he was found murdered by a garrote. Thomas is arrested for the crime and awaits trial but instead Jane Austen, influenced by her brother’s opinion of the man decides to investigate and see if she can find evidence that will clear him.

Stephanie Barron writes in a style similar to that of Jane Austen so that the reader actually feels that they are reading a nineteenth century style cozy-amateur sleuth tale. The intelligent Jane is so independent, she seems as if she would be more at home in the present century then she was in her own time. The heroine never quite crosses the line into scandal, but Jane is so out of the box that she pushes the boundaries to the outer limit as a blue stocking. JANE AND THE PRISONER OF WOOL HOUSE is a fascinating mystery that relies on the readers sleuthing abilities to find out who the perpetrator really is.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner